Film Editing 101: Tools, Techniques & Top Indian Editors to Follow

Behind every powerful film lies an invisible architect—the film editor. While actors perform in front of the camera and directors call the shots on set, it is the editor who shapes the final narrative, rhythm, and emotional arc of a story. Film editing is where the film truly takes its form, turning raw footage into a seamless and compelling viewing experience.

As digital platforms expand and Indian cinema embraces a wider range of storytelling formats, the demand for skilled editors has increased across films, web series, documentaries, and branded content. Whether you're a student, an aspiring filmmaker, or someone exploring a creative career path, understanding the basics of editing is a vital step.

This article introduces the essential tools, techniques, and top editors you should follow to understand what it takes to excel in this crucial craft.

What Is Film Editing?

Film editing is the process of selecting, arranging, and assembling raw footage into a coherent sequence that supports the story, tone, and pacing of the film. A good editor does not just cut scenes—they sculpt the audience's emotional journey.

Editing influences:

• Narrative structure

• Scene transitions and pacing

• Dialogue rhythm and performance continuity

• Mood and tension through visual and audio manipulation

• Viewer engagement and comprehension

An editor is part storyteller, part technician, and part problem solver.

Essential Tools of the Trade

Modern editors use a combination of software, hardware, and collaborative tools. While editing workflows may vary by project and budget, these tools are widely used across the Indian film industry:

1. Editing Software (NLEs – Non-Linear Editors)

• Adobe Premiere Pro: Popular among indie filmmakers and digital content creators. Integrates easily with After Effects and Photoshop.

• Final Cut Pro X: Favoured by Mac users for its speed and intuitive interface.

• Avid Media Composer: Industry standard for large-scale film and TV editing in India and Hollywood. Known for its stability and media management.

• DaVinci Resolve: Offers professional editing with industry-grade colour correction tools. Increasingly popular for its all-in-one post workflow.

2. Supporting Software

• Adobe After Effects: For motion graphics, VFX, and title design

• Pro Tools: For audio post-production

• Frame.io / Wipster: For cloud-based collaborative reviews

• PluralEyes: For fast audio sync between camera and sound files

3. Hardware Essentials

• High-performance desktop or laptop (Mac or Windows)

• Large color-calibrated monitor for accurate visuals

• External SSD drives for fast data transfer

• Professional headphones or studio monitors for audio accuracy

Fundamental Editing Techniques

Even before mastering advanced tools, aspiring editors should focus on learning the grammar of editing. These foundational techniques form the basis of good cinematic storytelling:

1. Continuity Editing

Also known as invisible editing, this technique ensures that scenes flow logically and maintain spatial and temporal consistency. It keeps viewers immersed.

2. Montage

A sequence of shots used to condense time, convey information quickly, or build emotion. Popularised by Soviet cinema, montage remains a powerful tool in Indian cinema, especially for musical and transformation sequences.

3. Match Cuts and J-Cuts/L-Cuts

These transitions guide the viewer smoothly between scenes. Match cuts maintain visual similarity across two shots, while J and L cuts involve overlapping audio to create seamless audio-visual continuity.

4. Rhythmic and Emotional Pacing

Editing is as much about timing as it is about cuts. The rhythm must match the emotional tone—fast cuts in action scenes, long takes in dramatic moments, or deliberate pauses in suspense.

5. Cutaways and Reaction Shots

These are used to provide context, show a character’s response, or guide the audience’s emotional reaction.

6. Cross-Cutting (Parallel Editing)

Used to build tension or highlight thematic connections between simultaneous events. It is commonly seen in thrillers and climactic sequences in Indian cinema.

Career Path: How to Become an Editor in India

1. Formal Training Institutes like FTII (Pune), SRFTI (Kolkata), Whistling Woods (Mumbai), and AAFT offer specialised courses in film editing. Several online platforms also provide short-term certifications in software and editing theory.

2. Assistant Editing Roles: Start by assisting senior editors on short films, music videos, ads, or student projects. Learn the workflow: media ingestion, syncing, rough cuts, fine cuts, backup protocols.

3. Build a Showreel: Create a reel of your best editing work. This could include short films, YouTube content, branded edits, or music videos that showcase your pacing, tone control, and technical command.

4. Understand Genres and Formats: Editing a sitcom differs from editing a thriller or a documentary. Learn how editing serves the genre.

5. Stay Updated: Editing software and trends evolve quickly. Learn about AI-assisted editing, collaborative workflows, and how OTT timelines affect editing decisions.

Top Indian Editors You Should Know

These editors have shaped the visual rhythm of some of India’s most acclaimed films. Their work is a masterclass in storytelling through cuts:

1. A. Sreekar Prasad

National Award-winning editor known for Talvar, Raazi, Kannathil Muthamittal, and Shershaah. Renowned for his multilingual mastery and emotional precision.

2. Namrata Rao

Editor of Band Baaja Baaraat, Kahaani, Pink, and Made in Heaven. Her work is known for its modern pace and emotional resonance.

3. Rameshwar S. Bhagat

Famous for editing high-energy films like Kick, Race, and Tiger Zinda Hai. A go-to editor for commercial action thrillers.

4. Manik Dawar

Editor of Article 15, A Thursday, and Mili. His work balances realism with tension-building, making him a popular choice for OTT projects.

5. Deepa Bhatia

Worked on films like Taare Zameen Par, Rock On!!, and Kai Po Che. Her style is nuanced, with a keen eye for performance-driven editing.

6. P.S. Vinod and Sandeep Francis

Known for collaborative editing styles in films like Super Deluxe and Master in Tamil cinema.

Studying their work across genres and formats offers valuable insights into how editing evolves with narrative style.

The Rise of Editors in the OTT Era

With the explosion of content on platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hotstar, SonyLIV, and JioCinema, editors are now working across episodic formats, docu-series, and experimental short content. Editors are often involved earlier in the process—helping shape shooting strategies based on post-production needs.

This has also given rise to hybrid roles like editor-directors, editors-writers, and editors-colorists, making the career path more versatile than ever.

Editing as the Invisible Art

Film editing may be one of the most underrated aspects of filmmaking, but it is arguably the most crucial. A well-edited film can elevate average performances and poor direction, while a poorly edited one can ruin even the best scripts.

At the Indian Film Institute, we encourage aspiring editors to blend technical expertise with narrative instinct. Learn to see beyond the timeline and cut with purpose. Remember: editing is not about deleting—it’s about revealing the story’s soul.